Valve.



J. M. GANZER.

VALVE.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 21. 1915.

Patented May 23, 1916.

e/ZZMM Gaflzer,

lmlll y/// v A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN IVL GANZER, OF POUGI-IKEEPSIE', NEW YORK.

VALVE.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN M. GANZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to valves and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a valve for connection to a helmet to be used by firemen or other workmen who are subjected to the breathing of impure air during their work, or. by divers,

when diving.

' a multiple valve seat by means of which the passage of air through the valvemay be varied according to the pressure applied to the diaphragm for regulating the 1nlet of air.

the provision of means for adjustably connecting the diaphragmto the valve for varying the corresponding action between the diaphragm and the valve seat.

With the foregoing and other ob ects 1n view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, comblnatlon and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated 111 the accompanying drawings and clalmed.

In describing'the invention in detail refview showing a face mask and the manner of communication between the face mask and the improved valve structure.

-Referring more particularly to the draw- S pecification of Letters Iatent.

A still further object of this invention is Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed May'21, 1915. Serial No. 29,560.

ings, l designates the outer casing of the thereof. The casing 1 further has tubes 4 and 5 formed upon its end, which form air outlet and inlet members. a valve seat 6 detachably mountedtherein, which valve seat is provided with an annular flange 7formed upon its upperend for resting against the shoulder 8 formed in the tube 5 for insuring the proper position of the seat within the tube. The valve seat 6 is provided with a bore 9 extending therethrough which terminates in the valve seat 10 formed inthe lower end of the seat 6. The bore 9 has mounted therein a valve member 11, which has its lower end flared as is shown at 12 for seating in the frustoconical. shaped seat 10 for cutting off the supply or passage of air through the bore 9. The valve member 12 is hollow and has a plurality of transversely extending openings 14: formed in the sides thereof to. permit of thepassage of air out of the member 12. The member 12 has a valve stem 15 extending vertically therethrough which has a valve cone 16 mounted upon its lower end for abutment against the under surface of themember 12 for cutting off the passage- The tube 5 hasv of air into the interior of the member '12.

The cone 16 flares outwardly and has a semispherical section 16 formed upon its lower end. A rubber washer or gasket 16 is secured to the under surface of the flared end i of the valve member 11, and forms a seat for the frusto-conical valve cone16. The movement of the valve stem 15 is limited by a collar 17 which is mounted upon the" stem 15 and engagesthe upper surface of the upper end of the member 12. 'A coil spring 18 is positioned within the member and engages the upper surface of the valve cone 16 tendingtohold the cone in an extended position from the lower end of the member 12. A plate 20 is suspended centrally within the tube 5, beneath the semi spherical head 16, and it has a substantially circular tube 20' which is constructed of foraminous material secured to its upper edge and extending upwardly therefrom,"

being secured to the valve member 11. The

air passing upwardly through the tube 5 will be deflected by the plate 20 and enter the interior of the foraminous tube 20 in a horizontal plane, or from the sides ofthe same, preventing action by the inrushing air upon the valve cone 16.

The stem 15 has a plurality of openings 21 extending transversely through its upper end, in one of which openings is seated the short end 22 of the angled lever 23. The angled lever 23 is pivoted at 2 1 to cars 25 which are formed upon the inner side of the diaphragm 26. The upper end of the long arm 27 of the angle lever 26 is slidably mounted in a pin 28 which projects through the diaphragm 26. The extent of the movement of the diaphragm is indicated by the dotted line shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The diaphragm 26 issecured to the innersurface of the casingl inwardly of the enlarged end of the substantially frustoconical projection 3 which is formed thereon, by any suitable device such as screws or rivets 29.

I The tube 4: is connected to the face mask 30, so that the person wearing the mask may breath through the tubes 4 and 5 and the casing 1.

In the operation of the improved valve: hen theparty wearing the mask inhales, which inhalation is sent through the mouth of the wearer, the suction of air created within the interior of, the casing 1, being greater than the normal pressure of air, will draw the diaphragm 26 inwardly as is indicated in dotted lines at 31 in the drawings,

thereby forcing the valve stem 15 downwardly through, the crank connection between the diaphragm and the valve stem by the angled lever 23, and force the member 12 downwardly out of the substantially frustoconical shaped valve seat 10 and permit of the passage of air upwardly through the .bore 9 into the casing l and out of the same through the tube 4 to the wearers mouth.'

The air is exhaled through the wearers nose,

and it passes outwardly through the valve 32, which is formed .in the mask and so constructed that the egress of air is permitted but the inlet of air therethrough is prethe exhaled air or breath passes downwardlyvented. The exhaling of the air will, when into the casing 1 increase the air pressure within the casing, making it greater than the normal pressure outside of the casing or the atmospherical pressure and will force the diaphragm 26 outwardly as indicated in dotted lines at 33, causing the member 12 and the valve cone 16 to move upwardly and securely close the passage of air through the bore 9.

The casing 1 has anopening formed therein alongside of the valve seat 6, through which opening may extend electric light or telephone wires indicated by 36, for connection to various devices which may be carried by the face mask 30. In the use of the bevel seated valve heretofore described, the larger seat or opening 10 which is controlled by the flared end of the member 12 operates to allow an opening large enough to permit normal breathing. However, this opening would be too large for properly feeding air under abnormal breathing, and a smaller inlet is required which is provided by the hollow bore of the member 11 and the openings 14 extending therethrough, which are controlled by the valve 16. The working of the diaphragm closes the larger seat, by moving the enlarged portion 12 of the member 11 upwardly into the seat 10, prior to the movement of the valve cone 16, which is held outwardly by the spring 18 and upon increased movement of the diaphragm, the resistance of the spring is overcome and the valve cone 16 is forced upwardly into engagement with the under surface of the member 11, completely cutting off the passage of air therethrough. The abnormal breathing will increase the vibration of the diaphragm 26, and consequently increase the leverage action of the angle lever 27.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings a modified form of the valve is shown which comprises a single seat. In the modified form the tube 5 has a valve seat 40 positioned therein, which is similar in construction to the valve seat 6, having a valve seat 11 formed in its lower end. In the modified form, the valve stem 42 extends completely through the valve seat a0 and has a valve cone 43 formed on its lower end for seating in the valve seat ll for cutting off the passage of air through the valve member 40. The stem 42 is provided with a plurality of openings 44 in its upper end, one of which receives the short end 22 of the angle lever 23. The vertical operation of the valvestem 4:2 is, upon the vibration of the diaphragm 26 identical with the operation of the valve stem. 15, it i being operated for closing the valve upon the exhalation of air by the person wearing the mask and foropeningthe valve upon the inhalation of air. a

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the advantages of construction and of the method of operation of the improved valve will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the art to which this invention appertains and, while in the foregoing description the principle of the operation of this. invention has been described together with various features of construction, it is to be understood that certain minor features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be altered to suit practical conditions provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is a 1. In a valve structure for he1mets,.a casing, a valve seat formed in said casing, a valve member slidably seated within said valve seat, a valve cone for engagement against said valve member for controlling the passage of air through said valve seat, a valve stem connected to said valve cone, a diaphragm mounted within said casing, an angle lever connecting said diaphragm and said valve stem for controlling the operation of said valve cone upon the vibration of said diaphragm, and means for adjustably connecting said angle lever to said valve stem.

2. In a valve structure for helmets, a casing having an inlet tube, a valve seat formed within said inlet tube, a valve cone positioned within said inlet tube and adapted for cutting off the supply of air through said valve seat, said valve cone being provided with a centrally disposed bore and a valve seat formed in its lower end, a valve cone for seating in said last named valve seat and regulating the inlet of air therethrough, a diaphragm carried by said casing, and means operatively connecting said diaphragm and said valve cones for regulating the position of the cones.

3. In a valve structure for helmets, the combination, of a casing, a diaphragm positioned within said casing, a tube formed upon said casing, a valve seat formed within said tube, a valve cone slidably carried by said tube for controlling the quantity of air passing through said tube, a foraminous tube extending downwardly from said valve cone, and a substantially semi-spherical plate secured to the lower end of said foraminous tube.

a. In a valve structure for helmets, the combination, of a casing, a diaphragm positioned within said casing, a tube formed upon said casing, a valve seat formed within said tube, a valve cone slidably carried by said tube for controlling the quantity of air passing through said tube, a foraminous tube extending downwardly from said valve cone, a substantially semi-spherical plate secured to the lower end of said foraminous bulged portion and cutting ofi' communica- ,c

tion between the interior of the casing and the interior of the bulged portion, a tube formed upon said casing, a valve seat formed within said tube, a valve cone slidably carried by said tube for cutting off the passage of air through said valve seat, said valve cone being provided with a centrally disposed bore terminating in the valve seat, a valve stem extending centrally through said bore, a valve cone formed upon "the lower end of said valve stem, a semi-spherical portion formed upon the base of said valve cone, a foraminous tube connected to and extending downwardly from said valve I seat, a substantially semi-spherical plate connected to the lower end of said foraminous tube and surrounding said semi-spheri cal enlargement formed upon the base of said valve cone, an angle lever pivotally connected to said diaphragm, said lever being connected to said valve stem for controlling the operation of said valve cone by the vibration of said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN I M. GANZER.

Witnesses J OSEPH F. HORAN, IRENE CLAIR KEARNEY.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G." 

